March 1998

Anticompetitive practices

 The EU Commission rejects complaints concerning the ’old’ standard UK pub leases incorporating a discount scheme (Inntrepreneur)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 8 contributions 8341 visits
"The “old” Inntrepreneur standard UK pub leases"* By Decisions of 5 March and 14 April 1998, the Commission has rejected the last two complaints concerning the “old” standard UK pub leases used by Inntrepreneur. The Commission rejected the complaints because there was no longer a Community (...)

Unilateral Practices

 The EU Commission condemns ice cream supplier for its practice of freezer cabinet exclusivity in the Irish ice cream market (Unilever / Van den Bergh Foods)
Hong Kong Competition Commission (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong 15 contributions 3796 visits
"The Commission adopts a Decision against Unilever concerning freezer cabinet exclusivity in the Irish ice cream market"* On 11 March 1998, the Commission adopted a Decision condemning Unilever‘s practice of “freezer exclusivity” in Ireland, with a view to facilitating access by other suppliers (...)

Mergers

 The EU Court of Justice states that the Regulation on the control of concentrations between undertakings also applies to collective dominant positions (French Republic)
European Court of Justice (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 305 contributions 73485 visits
Judgment of the Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-68/94 French Republic v Commission of the European Communities and C-30/95 Société Commerciale des Potasses et de l’Azote (SCPA) and Entreprise Minière et Chimique (EMC) v Commission of the European Communities* France and two French companies, (...)

The EU Commission acknowledges the withdrawal of notification of a joint venture in the clay sewage pipes sector (Wienerberger / Cremer & Breuer)
European Commission - DG TRADE (Brussels)
Belgium 25 contributions 5953 visits
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European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 22 contributions 5390 visits
"Mergers Recent important decisions" On 4 December 1997 Wienerberger Baustoffindustrie AG (“Wienerberger”) and Deutsche Steinzeug Cremer & Breuer (“Cremer & Breuer”) notified their intention to combine their activities in the area of clay sewage pipes in a joint venture. Cremer & (...)

The EU Commission approves the creation of a joint venture in the pharmaceutical sector between a French company and a US company (Sanofi / Bristol-Myers Squibb)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 5 contributions 1979 visits
"Mergers : other developments"* The Commission approved the creation of a joint venture in the pharmaceutical sector between the French company Sanofi and the US company Bristol-Myers Squibb. The purpose of the cooperation is the development, manufacture and commercialisation of two new (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority clears a merger in the retail distribution market subject to one of the parent companies refraining from activity in the relevant market (Migros Metro)
Esin (Istanbul)
Turkey 51 contributions 93795 visits
The operation Migros and Metro are both active in the retail sector in Turkey. The transaction is the establishment of 5 joint ventures by and between Migros and Metro for which purpose the Parties had entered into an agreement (“Agreement”) on December 1, 1997. According to the Agreement the (...)

The European Commission decides to partially refers to the Italian Competition Authority an acquisition in the retail industry (Promodes/S21/Grupo GS)
European Commission - DG TRADE (Brussels)
Belgium 25 contributions 5953 visits
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European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 22 contributions 5390 visits
"Mergers Recent important decisions" On 10 March 1998 the Commission decided to refer partially to the competent Italian authorities («Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato« ) the examination of the acquisition by the French retailing group Promodès of joint control with Schemaventuno(a (...)

The EU Commission approves a merger between two leading professional publishers (Wolters Kluwer / Reed Elsevier)
European Commission - DG TRADE (Brussels)
Belgium 25 contributions 5953 visits
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European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 22 contributions 5390 visits
"Mergers Recent important decisions" The proposed merger of Wolters Kluwer and Reed Elsevier was notified to the Commission on 10 November 1997. After initial examination it was concluded that the operation gave rise to serious competitive concerns in a number of national markets for (...)

State Aid

 The European Commission opens a procedure under art. 93(2) concerning the proposal of an aid granted by the Austrian government for the development of a ’mill information and control system’ relating specifically to the construction of a new paper machine (KNP Leykam)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 52 contributions 9436 visits
"AUTRICHE. La Commission a décidé d’ouvrir la procédure au titre de l’article 93 §2 du traité CE à l’égard d’une aide prévue en faveur de KNP Leykam au titre de la R&D"* On 25 March 1998, the Commission decided to open a procedure with respect to the Austrian government’s proposal to give aid of ECU (...)

The EU Commission authorizes the proposed R&D aid by the UK authorities for the development of a new generation of three high thrust aero-engines (Rolls-Royce)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 52 contributions 9436 visits
"ROYAUME-UNI. Feu vert de la Commission à l’octroi d’aides à la R&D en faveur de Rolls- Royce"* The Commission has authorised the proposed R&D aid by the UK authorities to Rolls-Royce for the development of a new generation of three high thrust aero-engines. The new engines will be (...)

The EU Commission and the Portuguese government reach an agreement on the repayment of training aid to a joint venture in the automobile industry, that exceeded the applicable ceiling (AutoEuropa/Ford/Volkswagen)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 52 contributions 9436 visits
"PORTUGAL. Aides à la formation. Clôture du dossier"* The European Commission and the Portuguese Government have reached agreement on the repayment of training aid to AutoEuropa, a Ford/Volkswagen joint venture, that exceeded the applicable ceiling. The Commission has therefore decided to close (...)

The EU Commission opens a procedure under art. 93(2) concerning a State aid granted by Germany for the R&D projects of a micro-electronics components manufacturer (SICAN)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 52 contributions 9436 visits
"ALLEMAGNE. La Commission ouvre la procédure au titre de l’article 93 §2 du traité CE à l’égard des aides qui ont été octroyées au titre de la R&D au groupe SICAN et à ses associés"* On 11 March 1998, the Commission decided to open a procedure with respect to aid given to SICAN-group. SICAN group, (...)

Regulatory

 The EU Commission adopts a notice on the application of the competition rules to access agreements in the telecommunications sector
Covington & Burling (London)
Royaume-Uni 6 contributions 1299 visites
"Commission Notice on the Application of the Competition Rules to Access Agreements in the Telecommunications Sector"* Background On 31 March 1998, the Commission adopted a Notice on the Application of the Competition Rules to Access Agreements in the Telecommunications Sector (the Access (...)

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